Meet Kirk

Kirk Watson is the Texas State Senator for District 14, which includes most of Travis County and the City of Austin.   He is vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, and serves on the Senate committees for Jurisprudence, Nominations, Business and Commerce, and the Subcommittee on Emerging Technologies and Economic Development.   He also serves as Chair of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the region's primary transportation planning agency. 

He is a partner with the law firm, Hughes & Luce.  He is a lawyer, mediator, public affairs consultant, and former Austin Mayor.   In 1991, Watson was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to chair the Texas Air Control Board.  In addition, he is former chair of both the Texas Advisory Board for Environmental Defense and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.  

Senator Watson has earned numerous endorsements, awards and recognitions.  Most recently, he was named legislative "Rookie of the Year" by Texas Monthly Magazine, which declared, "The former Austin mayor (and once and future statewide candidate) instantly earned respect for his intellect and diplomacy—and for knowing enough to let his elders take credit for his accomplishments."

Other recognitions include the "Austinite of the Year" award from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Family Magazine's "Favorite Local Hero," Texas Interfaith Power & Light's "Certificate of Environmental Stewardship," the 2007 Legislative Honor Roll by the Texas Association of Realtors, and the "Best of Austin – Best Citizen" Reader's Choice Award from the Austin Chronicle.

Watson graduated first in his law school class at Baylor University Law School and served as president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association.  He served on the original board of directors for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and is active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  He has served on several boards, including KLRU, Ballet Austin, El Buen Samaritano health clinic and the Community Partnership for the Homeless.

Read Speeches by Kirk »